Django Unchained (Post-release)

[Quake II]

Even though I can't stand Jamie Foxx I do love me some Tarantino, so I saw Django Unchained last night. It was fantastic and possibly Tarantino's most fully realized film to date. The self aware dialoque is gone and the movie is a straightforward revenge tale that never deviates from its course. As much as I loved Inglorious Basterds I think Django is a better film overall.
Will Smith was Tarantino's first choice as Django but I think Foxx works better in the role. Smith has too much charisma and personality and Fox has none. Since the Django character is a freed slave in a land filled with hatred, Foxx's subtle "acting" and complete lack of range actually works better in the role. The film features beautiful cinematography, cool music choices and the finale was a bloodbath of Kill Bill proportions. A special shout out to DiCaprio as well, he ventured out of his comfort zone and was brilliant as the racist plantation owner Calvin Candie. And if you happen to be one of those people that hates Tarantino, this movie is for you too!


SPOILER AHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




Tarantino has a small part in the film and meets an explosive and violent end

 

[Treadwell]

I'm not sure but some people were talking about some commentary he made turning them off the movie.

If it was indeed the SNL commentary, people need to lighten the hell up.

Indeed, I thought the same thing. An SNL monologue? Really?

 

[mmarlon brando]

Christoph Waltz gets better in every film I see him. As brilliant as he was as Hans Landa, I enjoyed this role even more.

 

[Monster Dave]

Loved it. Loved-it!!!

 

[Zombie_61]

I finally saw it today. I haven't been overly impressed with some of Tarantino's latest movies, but I think Django Unchained is one of his best. It's not without flaws (which I won't mention here as they could be considered as spoilers), and Tarantino could probably have trimmed about 30 minutes here and there that wouldn't have been missed, but the pacing moves the story along and all of the performances are spot-on...except perhaps for Quentin Tarantino's extended cameo, which features Q.T. attempting an obviously fake Australian accent. Standout performances in my opinion were from Christoph Waltz and Samuel L. Jackson.

I'd recommend Django Unchained to any Tarantino fan, anyone who likes the genre, or anyone who expressed an interest after seeing the trailer. Some people might be put off by some of the language, violence, and extremely brief nudity in the movie, so take my opinions for what they're worth.

 

[JoeG]

and Tarantino could probably have trimmed about 30 minutes here and there that wouldn't have been missed,

You know, I kind of felt the same. I went in knowing what the running time was and wondered if maybe not having his usual editor, Sally Menke (RIP) contributed to that. I think she usually does a good job of reining him in when he seems to let scenes go on too long. Still really loved the film, though. In fact, I'm going to see it again tomorrow with some friends who haven't seen it yet.

 

[crabra comander]

Samuel L's role was my favorite right after Dicaprio's...It did run a little long in places, but watching the actors interact was so much fun!

Every time I see Walton Goggins in something he cracks me up.

My BIGGEST issue was the Germans final decision...you guys know what I'm talking about. It felt like it was there for the sake of plot movement.

 

[Scareb]

Samuel L's role was my favorite right after Dicaprio's...It did run a little long in places, but watching the actors interact was so much fun!

Every time I see Walton Goggins in something he cracks me up.

My BIGGEST issue was the Germans final decision...you guys know what I'm talking about. It felt like it was there for the sake of plot movement.

Spoiler

I knew he was gonna shoot do caprio as soon as he walked into the study but I certainly wasn't expecting him to get shot. I thought for sure as soon as he killed Candie and whatshisface was gonna turn his shotgun on him, that Django would in turn use his concealed pistol and kill him before waltz could get shot

Also that brief nudity was awkward as hell.

 

[crabra comander]

Really awkward...I mean...borderline Bruno awkward, luckily it was dark so I couldn't declare myself a full blown meat-gazer because I was so confused.

 

[hansicle]

Saw it with a friend. I loved it, my friend (who is much younger) didn't care for the violence. I told him the violence was cartooney to me. It seemed anything that got shot looked like an exploding watermelon. He thought it was too violent.

I will admit, the use of slurs was a bit uncomfortable to me, but I can think of worse things that happened in the movie.

I loved the Cameo roles, and it was fun seeing some of the actors and going HEY, that's so and so.

The time FLEW by as for how long the movie was.

 

[Wes R]

Hmmm... think I'll pass and rewatch the original: Blazing Saddles...

Thanks Art, now i have the theme song in my head. Just keep VH1 classic on, they've shown it like 5 times in one week. I do give this movie credit. Any film that ticks off the hack Spike Lee is okay with me.

 

[MFP 2020]

Saw it this morning. Liked it a lot. I really enjoyed all the cameos. I swear I saw Tony Anthony in the final shootout but maybe it was James Russo.

 

[Kit Rae]

Saw it last night. Loved it. Not really familiar with Jamie Foxx much, other than Ray and Collateral, which I liked. It's Quentin, so I'll see it no matter who is in it.

Easily one of his best films. You get the so-over-the-top-it's-funny buckets of blood battle that we were denied seeing in color in Kill Bill. Christof Waltz (the Nazi from Inglorious Basterds), Sam Jackson, and DiCaprio are absolutely brilliant. Jamie Foxx is really good too, and kicks ass all over the place when he finally goes off at the end. It's a big homage to 70's blaxploitation films, revenge films, and probably the closest thing we will get to a Tarantino western. Probably his funniest film to date too. Definitely see it. Nice little cameo from Tom Savini in there too.

Not sure why anyone whines about the running time. If the film is good, you should not be looking at your watch, and if it is good, who cares how long it is?

As far as Spike Lee, I think he should do what Tarantino suggested he do back when Spike criticized Jackie Brown - stand on a chair and kiss Quentin's ass. Spike seems to think he owns making films for a black audience. If he was actually making good films these days he probably would not have to spend so much time criticizing someone making films people actually go see to get his name in the news, and coming off as a racist ass at the same time.

 

[berger]

just got back. i LOVED it, the time just flew by! the over the top gore was fantastic, the nudity was..... weird and unneeded. samuel l jackson was fantastic, a real life version of uncle ruckus from boondocks. the N word is thrown around A LOT, but i didnt find it uncomfortable at all, and i was with a mostly black audience.

definitely one of my favorite tarantino movies, ill be buying the blu-ray for sure.

 

[Zombie_61]

Saw it with a friend. I loved it, my friend (who is much younger) didn't care for the violence. I told him the violence was cartooney to me. It seemed anything that got shot looked like an exploding watermelon. He thought it was too violent...

...You get the so-over-the-top-it's-funny buckets of blood battle...

Okay, since this cat is now out of the bag, this was one of the things I didn't like about the movie. It's not that I have a problem with violence or gore in movies, it's just that the amounts of stage blood used in some scenes were so over-the-top that it was borderline parody.

 

[Kit Rae]

Okay, since this cat is now out of the bag, this was one of the things I didn't like about the movie. It's not that I have a problem with violence or gore in movies, it's just that the amounts of stage blood used in some scenes were so over-the-top that it was borderline parody.

Which is exactly what it was meant to be. You are not supposed to take this seriously. It's a fun blaxploitation revenge B-movie.

 

[hansicle]

That's how I took it. When you see buckets of blood just being thrown around like mop water after every shot, I couldn't help but do the OMG laughter at the over the top-ness. That and the people flying across the room after getting shot with a revolver. The uncomfortable nature of some of the material was balanced by the humor....the very dark humor.

 

[Zombie_61]

Yeah, I get that. It's just not my thing. When 95% of the movie's story is told in a semi-serious fashion, then 5% of it wanders into being absurdly silly, it takes me out of the story. I don't find it to be humorous, merely unnecessary. Tarantino might like that sort of thing, but I find it distracting. Of course, that's just my opinion; your mileage may vary.

 

[rodneyfaile]

I loved the movie, but ...

Spoiler

I think it would have been better just to have the entire big shootout take place when King Schultz shoots Calvin Candie. Django should have gotten it all done and the movie ended then. It felt stretched a little longer than necessary for Django to be sent off in a cage and then turn around and come right back and finish up.

 

[berger]

when it faded to black for a minute..... SEVERAL people very audibly said " oh what the ****!"